The first model, the 100 was announced in August 1954 at a trade show in Chicago, with production beginning later that year. The improved model was co-developed in Chicago by Paul Renard and Howard Holman for Wurlitzer. The lack of acoustic noise meant it could be played quietly using headphones. The reed assembly was designed carefully in order to produce the best set of harmonics when a hammer struck a reed. This allowed a much smaller instrument to be manufactured, as it did not need the space to support tension-loaded strings as found on acoustic piano. In the early 1950s, Meissner invented a new type of electric piano, substituting strings with struck quarter-inch (6.5 mm) steel reeds. By 1940, Miessner had licensed a patent for his piano design that was used in several electric piano models across the US. Four years later, he demonstrated the piano at the NAMM Show in Chicago. He first demonstrated the instrument in 1932. Inventor Benjamin Miessner designed an amplified conventional upright piano in the early 1930s by taking an acoustic baby grand and installing an electrostatic pickup system in it. Additionally, any debris between the reed and the pickup can cause a short circuit and produce a burst of distortion. Over time, particularly with aggressive playing, the reeds on a Wurlitzer will suffer metal fatigue and break. When played gently the sound can be quite sweet and vibraphone-like, sounding very similar to the Rhodes while becoming more aggressive with harder playing, producing a characteristic slightly overdriven tone usually described as a "bark". This gives the Wurlitzer a sharper and punchier tone. It has two internal speakers, but can also be connected to an external amplifier.Ĭompared to the equally-iconic (Fender) Rhodes electric piano, the sound from a Wurlitzer is sharper and closer to a sawtooth wave, while the Rhodes' is closer to a sine wave. The instrument is fitted with a mechanical sustain pedal. Most Wurlitzer pianos are 64-note instruments whose keyboard range is from A an octave above the lowest note of a standard 88-note piano to the C an octave below its top note. This induces an electrical current in an electrostatic pickup system using a DC voltage of 170 V. However, the sound is generated electromechanically by striking a metal reed with a felt hammer, using conventional piano action. The official name of the instrument is the Wurlitzer Electronic Piano. Problems playing this file? See media help. The sound of a Wurlitzer electric piano, subsequently modified by passing through a phaser However, the action and performance of the instrument has meant it is stable enough to be used for years. Several electronic keyboards include an emulation of the Wurlitzer.Īs the Wurlitzer is an electromechanical instrument, it can need occasional maintenance, such as replacing and re-tuning broken reeds. The stage instrument was used by several popular artists, including Ray Charles, Joe Zawinul and Supertramp. However, it was adapted for more conventional live performances, including stage models with attachable legs and console models with built-in frames. Originally, the piano was designed to be used in the classroom, and several dedicated teacher and student instruments were manufactured. The first Wurlitzer was manufactured in 1954, and production continued until 1984. The instrument was invented by Benjamin Miessner, who had worked on various types of electric pianos since the early 1930s.
The sound is generated by striking a metal reed with a hammer, which induces an electric current in a pickup although conceptually similar to the Rhodes piano, the sound is different. The Wurlitzer electronic piano is an electric piano manufactured and marketed by Wurlitzer from the mid-1950s to the early 1980s. We have no minimum order requirements, so whether you need a single replacement wire or supplies to recondition your piano, we welcome your business.A Wurlitzer 200A, the most commercially successful model We offer our products to the general public as well as to technicians in the trade. We offer a wide selection of piano parts, tools, and accessories as well as instructional videos on piano tuning and repair for the piano owner, as well as the piano technician. Howard Piano Industries is a piano supply company located in Tampa, FL. Never a problem with the pins from Howard Piano. In one case, most of them failed after several months and had to be replaced. I have installed thousands of pins in the lyres I build and have had bad luck with slippage by pins purchased from other manufacturers. The videos provide excellent information which allowed me to rebuild grandma's old piano I am very pleased with all of the items that I have purchased as well as the prompt delivery.
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